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Secrets
Guardian
Top 25 Best Australian Books for 2025
A gripping family saga about three generations fractured by secrets, and the three strong women who must bring them into the light.
Ruth, the widowed matriarch of a grown family, has only months to live, and a secret she’s kept for sixty years. Now she must put things right before she dies. But as she has learned, the longer something is kept hidden, the harder it is to bring out of the shadows.
With her grandson in gaol and her family fractured, Ruth must address the past, present and future. She must reveal her secret, reconcile her family, and find a way to keep her beloved homestead, Cora, in the family – and her family in Cora.
A sweeping saga spanning more than half a century, Secrets has a cast of indelible characters whose lives have been devastated by racism, trauma, addiction, incarceration, loss and shame. Yet for all that their secrets break your heart, Ruth and her family ultimately leave it stronger. This spirited, compassionate novel is a testament to the power of truth-telling and the possibility of healing.
‘An instant Australian classic.’ Hayley Scrivenor
'A powerful debut of love and loss.’ Petronella McGovern
‘Epic, compelling and moving.’ Inga Simpson
A gripping family saga about three generations fractured by secrets, and the three strong women who must bring them into the light.
Ruth, the widowed matriarch of a grown family, has only months to live, and a secret she’s kept for sixty years. Now she must put things right before she dies. But as she has learned, the longer something is kept hidden, the harder it is to bring out of the shadows.
With her grandson in gaol and her family fractured, Ruth must address the past, present and future. She must reveal her secret, reconcile her family, and find a way to keep her beloved homestead, Cora, in the family – and her family in Cora.
A sweeping saga spanning more than half a century, Secrets has a cast of indelible characters whose lives have been devastated by racism, trauma, addiction, incarceration, loss and shame. Yet for all that their secrets break your heart, Ruth and her family ultimately leave it stronger. This spirited, compassionate novel is a testament to the power of truth-telling and the possibility of healing.
‘An instant Australian classic.’ Hayley Scrivenor
'A powerful debut of love and loss.’ Petronella McGovern
‘Epic, compelling and moving.’ Inga Simpson
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
23 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 18, 2025
A fierce, strong, truth telling story.
An amazing woman’s voice, speaking strongly to reach into the general Australian reading population to learn, listen and try and understand the lived reality of so many First Nations families.
I read this as an eaudiobook and will at some future point try finding a paper book copy.
It’s a fabulous read, and I admit my learned knowledge in the past decade has meant that most of the present facts and details making up Aboriginal custody truth were known to me.
The way the story comes together almost reads like two separate books in one, the first half is the lived life of the two main women, Ruth and Dawn, then the second half is focused deeply on the reality of the prison system here in Australia and at times almost has a feeling of becoming preachy - it is truth telling many many realities experienced by far too many people but it does become pretty heavy until the final couple of chapters.
In saying that I do really hope many many people will be willing to be confronted and will read the entire book, think about all that’s said and do further research and become supporters for change.
An amazing woman’s voice, speaking strongly to reach into the general Australian reading population to learn, listen and try and understand the lived reality of so many First Nations families.
I read this as an eaudiobook and will at some future point try finding a paper book copy.
It’s a fabulous read, and I admit my learned knowledge in the past decade has meant that most of the present facts and details making up Aboriginal custody truth were known to me.
The way the story comes together almost reads like two separate books in one, the first half is the lived life of the two main women, Ruth and Dawn, then the second half is focused deeply on the reality of the prison system here in Australia and at times almost has a feeling of becoming preachy - it is truth telling many many realities experienced by far too many people but it does become pretty heavy until the final couple of chapters.
In saying that I do really hope many many people will be willing to be confronted and will read the entire book, think about all that’s said and do further research and become supporters for change.
November 5, 2025
This is the kind of women’s fiction I live for—fierce, expansive storytelling that centres women and refuses to look away from serious issues.
SECRETS cracks open the most fractious wounds in our country—stolen generations, forced adoptions, deaths in custody, racism, incarceration—and refuses to reduce them to statistics or headlines.
Judi Morison's passion, her indignation, her love all leap from the page. Her characters are alive, flawed, complicated, and unforgettable. Her sense of place is so vivid you can smell the native flora in the air. And the sweep of time—more than half a century—is handled with such deft assurance.
A book like this is important because these issues are not “someone else’s issues”. These are our issues. Australia’s issues. We cannot heal as a nation without naming the harm.
SECRETS is gripping storytelling, urgent truth-telling, and exquisite craft. It's a must-read for those who seek women’s fiction that does not shy away from the ugly truth, while delivering something of profound beauty.
SECRETS cracks open the most fractious wounds in our country—stolen generations, forced adoptions, deaths in custody, racism, incarceration—and refuses to reduce them to statistics or headlines.
Judi Morison's passion, her indignation, her love all leap from the page. Her characters are alive, flawed, complicated, and unforgettable. Her sense of place is so vivid you can smell the native flora in the air. And the sweep of time—more than half a century—is handled with such deft assurance.
A book like this is important because these issues are not “someone else’s issues”. These are our issues. Australia’s issues. We cannot heal as a nation without naming the harm.
SECRETS is gripping storytelling, urgent truth-telling, and exquisite craft. It's a must-read for those who seek women’s fiction that does not shy away from the ugly truth, while delivering something of profound beauty.
December 3, 2025
A wonderful read that adds layer upon layer of family history and dynamics as you move through. This is an important story that has played out in many Australian families over the past century and has impacted our society and culture in countless ways. Thank you Judi for the rich characters and detailed descriptions of the environment and trees/plants you have woven throughout this story.
I look forward to reading your next book!
I look forward to reading your next book!
January 17, 2026
I couldn't put this book down. It was gripping, heartfelt, powerful, heartwrenching, raw and emotional with real true to life characters.Topics such as racism, resilience, social injustices, homelessness, police brutality, trust, mistrust, lying, shame, bigotry, trauma, healing powers of kindness, black deaths in custody and recidivism. I felt all the emotions and found myself in tears in several places. what a great 5 star read!
January 17, 2026
Beautifully written story about family and country, with lots of beautiful flora & fauna descriptions of rural Australia, contrasted with the cityscape of Sydney & Brisbane. I enjoyed this book immensely, despite its at times sad commentary of indigenous treatment.
December 5, 2025
I loved this book.
The FMCs were strong and flawed and real. Their character development over the book was great to follow as a reader and I was so invested in their story.
The book was a fantastic recounting of Australia’s dark history and the connection I had to the characters as a reader made the message of the book hit even harder.
10/10 would recommend.
The FMCs were strong and flawed and real. Their character development over the book was great to follow as a reader and I was so invested in their story.
The book was a fantastic recounting of Australia’s dark history and the connection I had to the characters as a reader made the message of the book hit even harder.
10/10 would recommend.
January 5, 2026
Wow! I loved this book & look forward to more from Judi Morison
January 9, 2026
Great Read! Them folks pissed me off though!!
January 10, 2026
A fantastic book. I really enjoyed reading this story. Congratulations Judi on great debut novel.
September 13, 2025
🌿 Secrets by Judi Morison is a powerful and heartfelt debut that explores the hidden truths carried across three generations. This moving family saga follows strong women whose lives have been shaped by silence, loss and shame — and the courage it takes to finally bring those secrets into the light.
Morison’s writing is emotional and compelling, drawing you into the lives of her characters and holding you there until the very end. A story of love, resilience and hope, Secrets is a novel that lingers long after the last page is turned.
If you love Australian fiction that’s rich in emotion and family drama, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. 💛
Morison’s writing is emotional and compelling, drawing you into the lives of her characters and holding you there until the very end. A story of love, resilience and hope, Secrets is a novel that lingers long after the last page is turned.
If you love Australian fiction that’s rich in emotion and family drama, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. 💛
October 1, 2025
Ruth is forced to give up a baby in a racist Australia of the 1950s. Eventually moving forward with her life - although never giving up the memory of her lost child - she carves out a life with her husband and family at Cora, a property in rural Queensland. Here she tends to her garden and nurses her husband in his final years.
When Ruth is given a terminal diagnosis, she knows she has to right her perceived wrongs and maintain Cora as the heart of her family. But how will she reveal her secret, and how will it be taken by her daughters?
This was an engaging and interesting read. The narrative is easy and comfortable, and the awful truth of the treatment of our First Nations people is, yet again, an embarrassing past to reconcile.
When Ruth is given a terminal diagnosis, she knows she has to right her perceived wrongs and maintain Cora as the heart of her family. But how will she reveal her secret, and how will it be taken by her daughters?
This was an engaging and interesting read. The narrative is easy and comfortable, and the awful truth of the treatment of our First Nations people is, yet again, an embarrassing past to reconcile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews